To The Escape Zeppelin!:Carousel Beast: To The Escape Zeppelin!: Wangiss: Skirl Hutsenreiter: Or you can buy antique jewelry secure in the knowledge that whoever was mutilated in its manufacture is long dead.

Also, unlike those places that advertise nonstop on the radio, you are actually getting something unique. But too many people think used jewelry is somehow tainted.

The people who died for it may be long dead but it was the materials for old jewelry were probably mined in the most horrific conditions imaginable. Spanish mines in the Americas, where most silver is from, made the conditions in the article look like a holiday resort.

Is there a statue of limitations for blood items? It's not ok to but them directly but to buy them second hand years later is fine?

You understand that your comfy, modern civilization was built upon millennia of what you'd consider the most abhorrent barbarism, right? So, either accept that bad things happened in the past and you can't change it, and focus on prevention of bad things in the future, or just go kill yourself so you're not exploiting thousands of generations of poor, suffering humanity so you can post on Fark.

Wow. I was asking a semiserious question but it's ok, go ahead and freak out. When do blood minerals stop being blood minerals? When those who initially profited from them are dead? At some point we get to stop feeling bad about making jewelry out of blood diamonds so when does that happen?

"I couldn't wear that. Everyone would know!" Then, it's "Hey! That ring fell overboard! Oh, well, I can just get another. Or, you know, three. . ." After that, it's, "Nobody ever gets it right about which one is real and which isn't. Why on earth would I bother paying for the real stuff?"

The whole freaking planet is built on blood and blood sacrifices. The only reasons we have computers is because of the slaves squashed under the pyramids during it's construction. Don't be taking people's jobs away.

super_grass:Wow. I was asking a semiserious question but it's ok, go ahead and freak out. When do blood minerals stop being blood minerals? When those who initially profited from them are dead? At some point we get to stop feeling bad about making jewelry out of blood diamonds so when does that happen?

"I couldn't wear that. Everyone would know!" Then, it's "Hey! That ring fell overboard! Oh, well, I can just get another. Or, you know, three. . ." After that, it's, "Nobody ever gets it right about which one is real and which isn't. Why on earth would I bother paying for the real stuff?"

Wangiss:My ring is Titanium and is all scratched up after 8 years. If I got another, it would be tungsten for sure.

Mine got a fair bit scratched up in the 3 years I wore it- but it still looked good, and weighted NOTHING even with the Pt inset band. A Tungsten ring of the same volume would weigh roughly 4x what the Ti would...

trappedspirit:The whole freaking planet is built on blood and blood sacrifices. The only reasons we have computers is because of the slaves squashed under the pyramids during it's construction. Don't be taking people's jobs away.

Carousel Beast:You understand that your comfy, modern civilization was built upon millennia of what you'd consider the most abhorrent barbarism, right? So, either accept that bad things happened in the past and you can't change it, and focus on prevention of bad things in the future, or just go kill yourself so you're not exploiting thousands of generations of poor, suffering humanity so you can post on Fark.

Preach it.

I'd throw in that we should accept bad things happened *and learn from them*, but yep.

trappedspirit:super_grass: Jewelry is like a good suit or well-designed car. It elevates you socially and improves your standing among peers, helping you secure future social and monetary advancements.

StreetlightInTheGhetto:Carousel Beast: You understand that your comfy, modern civilization was built upon millennia of what you'd consider the most abhorrent barbarism, right? So, either accept that bad things happened in the past and you can't change it, and focus on prevention of bad things in the future, or just go kill yourself so you're not exploiting thousands of generations of poor, suffering humanity so you can post on Fark.

Preach it.

I'd throw in that we should accept bad things happened *and learn from them*, but yep.

computers are the same thing as engagement rings, you're both correct!

If you must have diamonds, just buy Canadian. All we do is fark over the Natives and Territories for their fair share of the mineral rights, so It's more of a twisted arm diamond than a blood diamond. Also, they have little polar bears etched on 'em!

Ashyukun:Wangiss: My ring is Titanium and is all scratched up after 8 years. If I got another, it would be tungsten for sure.

Mine got a fair bit scratched up in the 3 years I wore it- but it still looked good, and weighted NOTHING even with the Pt inset band. A Tungsten ring of the same volume would weigh roughly 4x what the Ti would...

Let's categorize the types of people who are impressed by big shiny rocks. We have the Icy Hot Stuntaz, the mentally handicapped, small children, cartoon cat burglars, and a large percentage of women. One of these groups might want to think about distancing themselves from the others.

browntimmy:Let's categorize the types of people who are impressed by big shiny rocks. We have the Icy Hot Stuntaz, the mentally handicapped, small children, cartoon cat burglars, and a large percentage of women. One of these groups might want to think about distancing themselves from the others.

Is there anything that we want that is bought with the blood of others? We could be 100% self-sustaining, living off the land, and the land itself was won by bloodshed some time in the past. Mankind is a horrible affliction on this rock. Plenty for everything for everyone and we'll never learn to share. We place more value on things than lives.

super_grass:browntimmy: Let's categorize the types of people who are impressed by big shiny rocks. We have the Icy Hot Stuntaz, the mentally handicapped, small children, cartoon cat burglars, and a large percentage of women. One of these groups might want to think about distancing themselves from the others.

MutantMotherMouse:Is there anything that we want that is bought with the blood of others? We could be 100% self-sustaining, living off the land, and the land itself was won by bloodshed some time in the past. Mankind is a horrible affliction on this rock. Plenty for everything for everyone and we'll never learn to share. We place more value on things than lives.

Wangiss:MutantMotherMouse: Is there anything that we want that is bought with the blood of others? We could be 100% self-sustaining, living off the land, and the land itself was won by bloodshed some time in the past. Mankind is a horrible affliction on this rock. Plenty for everything for everyone and we'll never learn to share. We place more value on things than lives.

super_grass:To The Escape Zeppelin!: Carousel Beast: To The Escape Zeppelin!: Wangiss: Skirl Hutsenreiter: Or you can buy antique jewelry secure in the knowledge that whoever was mutilated in its manufacture is long dead.

Also, unlike those places that advertise nonstop on the radio, you are actually getting something unique. But too many people think used jewelry is somehow tainted.

The people who died for it may be long dead but it was the materials for old jewelry were probably mined in the most horrific conditions imaginable. Spanish mines in the Americas, where most silver is from, made the conditions in the article look like a holiday resort.

Is there a statue of limitations for blood items? It's not ok to but them directly but to buy them second hand years later is fine?

You understand that your comfy, modern civilization was built upon millennia of what you'd consider the most abhorrent barbarism, right? So, either accept that bad things happened in the past and you can't change it, and focus on prevention of bad things in the future, or just go kill yourself so you're not exploiting thousands of generations of poor, suffering humanity so you can post on Fark.

Wow. I was asking a semiserious question but it's ok, go ahead and freak out. When do blood minerals stop being blood minerals? When those who initially profited from them are dead? At some point we get to stop feeling bad about making jewelry out of blood diamonds so when does that happen?

Maybe this is a stupid question, but what use does a ring have except being pretty? Actually, make that two stupid questions. Why do I care about other uses of a material for things I don't plan on using it for?

I mean, I wouldn't buy a gold chalice because of gold's electrical properties.

To The Escape Zeppelin!:Wangiss: Skirl Hutsenreiter: Or you can buy antique jewelry secure in the knowledge that whoever was mutilated in its manufacture is long dead.

Also, unlike those places that advertise nonstop on the radio, you are actually getting something unique. But too many people think used jewelry is somehow tainted.

The people who died for it may be long dead but it was the materials for old jewelry were probably mined in the most horrific conditions imaginable. Spanish mines in the Americas, where most silver is from, made the conditions in the article look like a holiday resort.

Is there a statue of limitations for blood items? It's not ok to but them directly but to buy them second hand years later is fine?

Plus by buying jewelry you are telling retailers and everyone who sees you wearing it that jewelry is still worth a lot of money. I feel the same way about those with CZ unless they exclaim to everyone "It is CZ!"- you are still reinforcing to people that diamonds are valuable and required.

That said, I agree with the lot of you that say that people suffer to make a LOT Of our [basically] worthless goods. I think you can improve your karma by consuming less, shopping at Goodwill or other charity-based second hand stores, or buying from the certified fair labor bla bla bla items.

/I don't wear rings because I have man hands so it isn't a problem for me...

thurstonxhowell:Ashyukun: as an engineer I get how useful it is beyond being pretty...

Maybe this is a stupid question, but what use does a ring have except being pretty? Actually, make that two stupid questions. Why do I care about other uses of a material for things I don't plan on using it for?

I mean, I wouldn't buy a gold chalice because of gold's electrical properties.

Beyond being pretty, it's also somewhat symbolic- and in my case, being an aerospace engineer and working with it in much of what I do, it's important to me. Granted, aircraft-grade aluminum would technically be MORE important- but it's neither as pretty or considered as precious as Ti is- but it's got a considerable significance for me...

Also- it's easier to make 'tension' settings with, completely wrongly named as they may be...